Adele Broadbent's Blog, page 236

In the Dark, In the Woods

TEEN – WAS

Author – Eliza Wass

Age – 14+ (Swearing)

Caspar, Hannan, (Castley, Delvive and Jerusalem – triplets) and their younger brother Mortimer are ruled by their father’s beliefs. He bases them all around God and it isn’t a loving, nurturing way of life, but full of fear and punishment for minor transgressions.

Their mother is merely a shadow in the story, her leg bent and twisted after a fall down the stairs and a refusal to go to hospital.

They have no phones, TV or computers as their father believes the devil can speak through technology. It’s only after trip to hospital for one of Castley’s siblings that got local authorities involved, and now they attend school.

They have all grown up believing they were special – the only ones that will be accepted into heaven. The more Castley learns of the outside world, the more she wants to be just a normal teenager. She can see now that being betrothed to her older brother Caspar is wrong. She can see Father’s punishments are too extreme and that maybe, just maybe, there might be another way of life out there for her and her siblings. But how will she convince them before it is too late?

(Religion, Fear, Control, Family, Internal Conflict, Courage)

The Road to Ratenburg

ER COW

Author – Joy Cowley

Age – 7+

This is the story told by a rat, in the view of a rat. Spinnaker; the proud father of 4 rats, and husband of the lovely Retsina, talks directly to the reader.

He tells the story of his family’s quest to travel to the holy grail of rats – Ratenburg. It is said that Ratenburg is safe with no Ratophobia, plenty to eat and drink and comforts that they’ve only dreamed of. Ratenburg is the place that the famous Pied Piper led all those rats of long ago – or is it?

This was a wonderful story of courage, determination, prejudice, relationships and family, by NZ’s own Joy Cowley. This is Joy Cowley’s 80th year, and out of the many dozens of chapter books – one of her best so far.

(Animals, Family, Courage, Family, Love, Predjudice, Rats)

Dreaming the Enemy

(Not in Napier/Taradale Libraries)

Author – Davin Metzenthen

Age – 14+ – Adult

Johnny Shoebridge has just returned from Vietnam. He’s suffering from PTSD, with constant visions of the places he’s been, the things he’s seen and the things he’s done.

Those memories are also haunted by a Viet Cong soldier Johnny saw in more than one battle in the Vietnam jungle. Johhny calls him Khan and as Johnny searches for some peace from his memories, Kahn too is looking for peace in Johnny’s dreams and nightmares.

But peace is a hard thing to find. Johnny spends time on his own, away from family and friends, while he works through his memories to finally find something to banish Khan from his mind for good.

This novel is written in third person and the tension rachets up through the novel until a firestorm between the Viet Cong and the Allied forces. This battle and Johnny’s memories up to it and through it, shapes the story and then Johnny’s future when he remembers something to finally give him some of the peace he’d been longing for.

Excellent fiction for older teens. Guys will love this. It’s gutsy and raw, taking the reader into the jungle, wondering whether a gun is being aimed at you, a mine is below your feet or a grenade is flying towards you.

Wonderful writing by this talented author.

(War, Vietnam, Fear, Grief, Friends, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)

 

Pax

(Not in the Napier/Taradale Libraries)

Author – Sara Pennypacker

Illustrations – Jon Klassen (B/W)

Age – 10+

The story of a boy and his abandoned pet trying to find each other – I knew this would be beautiful before I began reading, but the story is also so much more than that.

Peter is full of emotions. Guilt and loss after abandoning his pet fox. Grief for a lost parent, and anger at another parent for not only making him leave his fox alone in the wilderness, but all the while knowing that particular area would soon be a warzone.

Peter’s journey is not an easy one but along the way he helps another person deal with her past (and her own warzone).

I couldn’t read the last few pages quick enough – everything culminating into the reunion I’d waited for but also a life or death conclusion.

Pax was told in the point of view (third person) of both the fox and his boy in a heartfelt, compassionate, way throughout their separate journeys.

Research was made to ensure the ways of red foxes were authentic as much as possible, with creative license for anything in between. A great story about the bond between humans and their pets and also the aftermath of wars on everything it touches – whether it be human or animal.

(War, Fox, Animal, Family, Love, Grief, Trust, Anger, Sacrifice, Abandon)

The Dog, Ray

EXT – COG

Author – Linda Coggin

Age – 8+

(Love this cover!)

Daisy is in a car accident, leaving her dad in a wheelchair and herself facing a lady in a celestial office telling her she’s looking to place her soul somewhere as quick as she can. But instead of going through the right door, Daisy goes through the left – to become a new-born puppy. She has to learn everything there is to know about being a dog and is soon adopted by a boy called Cyril.

Through Cyril’s negligence, she meets an old man called Jack, who is homeless but kind. His kindness also stretches to a young runaway called Pip.

Pip names her Ray and together they have a bond that grows more and more throughout the story. Pip is searching for a father he’s never met, while Ray’s memories of being Daisy fade as her dog senses become more developed. Together they find a way to a new life – one they never imagined at the beginning of their friendship.

Animal lovers will love this story, particularly dog lovers. The author has captured the dog’s senses well and other traits like being pleased to see their owner even though they’ve only been apart for a short time, smells taking over their better judgement, growling in fear and anxiety and barking when excited.

(Animals, Dogs, Homeless, Foster child, Runaway, Friendship)

 

 

I’ll give you the Sun

TEEN – NEL

Author – Jandy Nelson

Age – 14+

Noah and Jude are twins and are very close. Jude is popular at school and at home, where Noah is the opposite. He feels his father’s disappointment in him, not being strong, masculine, and sporty like him.

But Noah is a brilliant artist and constantly draws the world around him. He not only can draw anything, he sees and thinks things in possible portraits and drawings. As the twins grow older, a tragedy forces them apart. Both have to deal with new and destructive relationships and face truths about themselves – all the while dealing with their troubles without the other.

But it’s art that brings them back together, making them face the tragedy that’s train-wrecked their family. And with each other’s help, find the love they needed to grow again.

It took 3 years for the author to write this novel, and after reading it I can understand why. She knows these characters inside and out, and it felt like I did when I had finished this novel. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Written beautifully, the story  constructed wonderfully, and with a beautiful ending after so much pain. 

(Gay, Twins, Siblings, Love, Art, Family, Friendship, Grief, Ghost, Truth)

 

Danny Best – Full On

(Not in Napier/Taradale Libraries)

Author – Jen Storer

Age – 7+

This is the first book in this series.

Danny Best is the BEST at everything – well, HE thinks so. He’s FULL ON, all the time, makes everything into a competition and changes the rules if he thinks it will have a better outcome. All his mates know what he’s like and ok with it, keen to beat his challenges and have fun at the same time.

Danny Best – FULL ON, is a collection of 5 stories that are linked by a vacant section next to Danny’s house (that he’s labelled The Lot of Pain), school, or the friends themselves. Each story is action-packed, full of Danny and funny illustrations, and followed by a quick quiz (also funny) for readers to test themselves on. Danny is really into tests and challenges of any kind and is very imaginative in everything he does. His farting dog Pugsley and crazy cat Dr Hook, also feature in the fun.

Young fans of Wimpy Kid, Timmy Failure, and Tom Gates will love these stories told by a boy just like them. Danny is bossy, full of himself and his achievements, but a complete crack-up at the same time. The illustrations on every page will have boy readers laughing throughout the entire book.

Raymie Nightingale

ER DIC

Author – Kate DiCamillo

Age – 8+

Timid Raymie Nightingale, lyrical Louisiana Elephante and tough Beverley Tapinski. 3 immensely different girls who meet at a baton twirling lesson with completely different reasons for being there. But as they quickly get to know each other, they become as close as The Three Musketeers, or The Three Rancheros as Louisiana liked to call them. They try to help each other with their problems – simple as retrieving a lost book, finding an abandoned cat, or just asking the questions that need asking.

I loved the characters in this book, especially tough Beverley. They are simple but so true to life, and the ending isn’t all sweetness and light, but full of possibilities.

(Friendship, Betrayal, Courage, Family, Anger)

Wilf the Mighty Worrier – Saves the World

ER – PRI

Author/Illustrator – Georgia Pritchett

Age – 6+

This is the first in this series.

Wilf is a worrier. He has a list of things he’s scared of, including stuffed animals, peanut butter getting stuck to the roof of his mouth, polo-neck jumpers, moths and twirly moustaches.

But when Alan and Pam move in next door, Wilf has to face his fears. Alan quickly tells him, (when Wilf has to go over and invite them to his house for tea), that he is the most biddly, boddly, baddest man in the whole wide world. He is in the middle of a secret plan to blow up the entire world – but please don’t tell anyone.

With the help of his ‘How to stop worrying’ leaflet from the library, his sticky, smelly, baby sister and lots of courage, Wilf has to stop Alan from blowing up the world.

Jammed with lists, Wilf’s drawings of possible worries and funny illustrations by the author, this book about a little boy being brave is wacky, funny, and adorable. The first in this series. Can’t read to meet more of Wilf’s adventures.

(Evil Baddie, Baby Sister, Humour)

Captain Jimmy Cook Discovers Third Grade

ER – COO

Authors – Kate & Jo Temple

Illustrator – Jon Foye

When Jimmy’s teacher Ms Fennel talks about Captain James Cook in History Week at school, Jimmy is super happy. This guy was not only an amazing explorer, he had the same name and also looked good in a tri-corn hat!

So then begins Jimmy’s fascination with Captain James Cook. When Jimmy’s learns that the Captain was killed by a tribe in Hawaii, he decides it’s up to him (they did have the same name after all), to go to Hawaii and sort things out, calm the tribes and carry on the Captain’s great work. But how was he going to get there?

A trip to the supermarket with Mum helps him with his problem. He sees a competition about WheatBlocks. Eat them, collect coupons and be in to win!

Now, how many packets can he sneak into the trolley…..?

This story was hilarious! It would make a great read-a-loud (with a tiny warning about the small poo content for those who would rather go without), for teachers of students aged 7-9. Third Grade for NZ readers is the equivalent of Year 4 for NZ schools.

The main character is super-confident, but not annoyingly so, and with an answer for everything he didn’t agree with. He was usually right – well partly anyway, and funny with it. Boys will love this as much as I did!

(Humour, Read-a-loud, Family, School, Competition, Determination, Captain James Cook)